Himachali Dronacharyas Silently Uplifting Sports

Bhupinder Singh

(The writer is a national athletics coach)

The conducive atmosphere required for upliftment of sports in Himachal could be made only after Asian Games was hosted in 1982 in Delhi. But Himachal got selective sports trainers of some sports much earlier through National Institute of Sports in Patiala. Besides this, the state also got sports trainers working under education department when Himachal separated from Punjab and was constituted as a full fledged state. It is with these trainers Himachal Pradesh Youth Services and Sports Department was constituted after 1982. Himachal’s first athletics trainer T.L. Vaidya became first sports officer too. Another athletics trainer Suresh Pathania later became Students Welfare Officer at CSK HP Agriculture University in Palampur. He constituted many sports federations in the state. Dr. Padam Singh Guleria gave invaluable contribution for the upliftment of sports in Himachal. As a first secretary of Maharana Lakshman Sen College, Padam Singh operated training programmes on track prepared on school ground and gave state the talent like Suman Rawat. Besides this, SAI Hostel, Bilaspur trainer Late N. R. Sharma helped uplifting the standard of volleyball in Himachal. He gave the state volleyaball players that marked their presence at international level competitions too. Volleyball trainers Vidya Sagar and Janam Chand Katoch have also given invaluable contribution to volleyball.

Late Chaman Gupta, former Hockey trainer of Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla gave some fine hockey players to the state. Besides this, former SAI hockey trainer Ashok Sharma too did good job for hockey. Thakur Ram Lal and Thakur Nand Lal managed the kabaddi sport brilliantly while training programme of Daya Ram Choudhary will be remembered for laying foundation stone of this sport. As for as boxing is concerned, sports management of Rajesh Bhandari still shines. Ramesh Chouhan too did good job in this context. Naresh Kumar is carrying training programme in Sundernagar for last two decades and it has started knocking now at international level.

Bansi Ram Suman has played important role in winning medals to the state in Korfball. Ashok Anand is putting in good efforts in netball. Many girls have brought laurels to the state in handball at international level under the strict training of Snehlata. Joni Choudhary has started his innings in wrestling training. It will be interesting to see what role he plays in the upliftment of this particular sport. It is expected from trainers and physical education teachers to put in their best efforts in training programmes to bring laurels for the state. However here cooperation from educational institutes is also expected to create a conducive atmosphere for sports training in their respective institutes.

Keep watching our YouTube Channel ‘Divya Himachal TV’. Also,  Download our Android App